One of the world’s largest exhibitions of Chinese ink paintings will be held in Hong Kong on Friday, with an ambitious mission by its curator to redraw the landscape of the Chinese art world and restore the genre to its former glory.

The works of renowned painters Wong Wing-yuk, 93, and Chinese culture scholar Professor Jao Tsung-i will be among some 500 pieces on show at Ink Global 2017 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. It will be the largest display of Chinese ink paintings ever staged in Hong Kong.

“Ink paintings used to have prime status. They were collected by emperors,” said curator Kwok Ho-mun, who runs the Wan Fung Art Gallery. “I want to make ink painting great again. Unlike porcelain works which can be mass produced, each one is unique.”

He said the exhibition would demonstrate different styles and techniques of ink painting.

“Take the example of Flower and Birds by Wong Wing-yuk – it displays his eye for beauty and creativity. At first he did not want to take part. But eventually he agreed, and even drew a new painting for this show,” Kwok said.

The event will feature works in all five major themes of ink painting, comprising people (with works by Wang Ming-ming), flowers and birds (Wong Wing-yuk), animals (Xing Cheng-ai), modern art (Wacius Wang) and natural scenery (Wang Chang-kai).